In the fly fishing world, typically we classify fish holding rivers/streams in three different categories, tailwaters, freestones, and spring creeks. So how do they differ and why should we care? Well, in fact, each classification is very different and typically supports different biology based on the amount of oxygen, vegetation, entomology […]
tailwater
Many of us, especially in winter, find ourselves drawn to tailwater fisheries. And for good reasons. Consistent water temperatures and flows nearly year round. Easily accessible pools, runs and pockets of pristine trout habitat. And of course, enormous fish populations touting trophy size specimens. Typically, when we discuss tailwaters, the […]
Break out the size 22’s and 6x, but be prepared for some serious studs. The Vail Valley area is in a perfect central location to get to some of the state’s best tailwaters. To the south/west you’ve got the Frying Pan and Taylor, and to the north/east you have your […]
Fly Fishing Freestone Rivers There are different types of trout streams that fly fisherman wade and float in pursuit of trout from freestone rivers like our Eagle to dam controlled tailwater rivers like the Frying Pan. Freestone rivers have a certain kind of magic for anglers since they’re flows are […]
Every year, when the Vail, Colorado ski areas close in the springtime, our local fly fisherman search for a fly fishing destination within a day’s drive to wet their line for a few days. One of my favorite April and May destinations for the past 30 years has been Wyoming’s […]
Tailwater fly fishing in Colorado is the angler’s answer to high off color water commonly found on rivers during spring. When the snow begins to melt at the end of ski season here in Central Colorado’s Vail Valley, the local waterways turn a chocolate brown, become unsafe to wade and […]
In 1981 the City of Aurora finished the damming of the South Platte River to create the Spinney Mountain Reservoir and the Spinney Mountain State Wildlife Area to access the five miles of meandering tailwater prior to its flowing into Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir. These three linear miles are, as […]
Here at Vail Valley Anglers we are blessed to have more miles of world class trout fishing than any die hard angler could cover in a lifetime of fly fishing. Our trout fishing takes place on tiny mountain creeks, medium sized freestone streams, cold clear tailwaters and also big brawling […]
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